Pilot study of air quality index assessment of nitrogen pollutant using lichen as bioindicators in Jakarta and Depok, Indonesia

Microbiology Study Group Proteus, Departement of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok, 16424, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: retno.lestari@sci.ui.ac.id

Abstract

Indonesia needs an alternative air quality index considering that the ones currently in use were not precisely made for the environment and people’s genetic makeup in Indonesia. This study aims to determine if lichen can be used as an alternative index to assess Indonesia’s air quality by acting as a bioindicator. Lichen samples were taken at six locations, three in Gelora Bung Karno’s City Forest, Jakarta, and three at the Universitas Indonesia’s city forest, Depok. Lichens are identified according to the chemical test results and identification key. The amount of lichen obtained is calculated and converted into a NAQI chart to determine if the site’s status is clean air, at-risk, N-polluted, or very N-polluted location. Two of them are polluted by nitrogen from seven sampling areas, while the other five are heavily polluted. This data shows the air quality in all areas is insufficient and polluted. However, our findings are contradictory to nitrogen pollutant data from Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Council (BMKG). Thus, in the future, there should be a calibrator when measuring air quality analysis using lichen.